• The Oyster Shed January 20, 2012
    The Oyster Shed opens in the City of London, serving seafood and British dishes, local ales and light bites […]
  • Burns Night Dinners January 20, 2012
    Celebrate Burns Night 2012 with a meal in London, from Scottish tasting menus to traditional Burns Night suppers […]
  • Aubaine Opens in Mayfair January 20, 2012
    French bistro Aubaine has opened a new branch on Dover Street in Mayfair […]
  • Café Le Cordon Bleu January 20, 2012
    Top cookery school Le Cordon Bleu opens its first café in London, near the British Museum in Bloomsbury Square […]
  • Chinese New Year Menus January 20, 2012
    Celebrate Chinese New Year 2012 and welcome in the Year of the Dragon with a meal at a London restaurant […]

Beautiful London

london

"When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford."

-Samuel Johnson, 1777

London Tours

SeeLondon in style...

Visit our Tour page for more information

London Rocks!

Our Rock 'n' Roll tour takes you to the heart of the British Beat...

Visit our Rock 'n' Roll page for more information

Free London Walking Tours

Book a taxi, tour, or treasure hunt online or phone +44 (0)203 00 44 953

Walking around London is the best way to get to know the city.  Along the way, you can stop at many famous places that offer free admission.

We have put together a list of links for you to the various websites that offer free self-guided walks of London and some free led walks as well:

London Walks offers free, downloadable walking tours for your iPod, iPad, iPhone smartphone or other MP3 device. You can hear the sounds of London as you walk. Directions, walking routes, and the history of London and the buildings and sights you pass are all featured as the walks progress.  The downloads are free, but you can donate $25 to receive a disk containing all walks.

South Bank London has five guides in the “Walk This Way” series that explore intriguing pockets of architecture and history along the River Thames.

Walk London has worked with the local authorities to develop an impressive network of quality walking routes. This site has something to offer whether you are looking for a place to feed the ducks, a short stroll in your lunch hour, or an energetic walk to pep you up.

Walk4Life has free led walks all over London on the weekend of Saturday January 28 2011 and Sunday January 29 2011

The Magician offers a free Harry Potter Walk of London.  They will email you a booklet that you can download and print off.  You can then follow the Harry Potter London walk step by step.

London For Free has information and maps for various free self-guided walking tours. Each one covers a different part of London. Simply choose the area you want to explore, print the walk, and go London sightseeing for free.

Walking for Health has all the latest news, events, and other useful information to get you walking in the capital.

Time Out – London Walks offers printable PDF walking guides for north, east, south, and west London.

London Gardens Trust offers a way to explore the lesser-known gardens and green spaces in the capital.  Using their guides, you will discover a range of garden squares, small parks, churchyards and community gardens, which together reflect the history of London from Roman times to the present day.

Walks of London is the website of Richard Jones who has been a pioneering figure on the London walking tour scene for the last 25 years.  His website is a great resource for information about free London walks.

London Tool Kit offers free self-guided walking tours of London. Their four walks cover the main areas of Central London that a first-time visitor will want to cover.

So take a walk around London, and see what the Capital has to offer. There are some fabulous places to explore and some great walks connecting them. You’ll be surprised just how much you can cover and just how much more you will see by walking.

And don’t forget to look up! The best part of London’s architecture is not at street level!

Alternative Tours

If walking London is not for you, maybe a tour of London in a comfortable and iconic London taxi would be just the thing.

We offer several Taxi Tours of London, as well as tours of the surrounding countryside:

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If you would like to contact us, you can:

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www.londonblacktaxis.net

www. londonblacktaxitours.net

+44 (0)203 00 44 953

Musical Denmark Street – London’s Tin Pan Alley

Book a tour online or phone +44 (0)203 00 44 953

Long before there was Abbey Road, Denmark Street was home to London’s musicians.

Most of the buildings date from the 1800s. Then rents were cheap, and so struggling artists, composers, and musicians found a place to live that was close to the theatres and pubs of Soho. Music publishers set up their businesses here around the 1890s, supplying the musicians of nearby theatres and music halls.

In the 1930s, the street was becoming renowned for music publishing, and shop windows displayed pianos and guitars. In the 1960s, recording studios started setting up.

Regent Sounds Studio opened at 4 Denmark Street in 1963. The Rolling Stones recorded their first album here.  Many are the stories about the Kinks, ELP, and Hendrix recording in the basement.   In 1974, new cutting-edge recording technology attracted Stevie Wonder.

ITV filmed a piece on Denmark Street, which you can watch below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCS8scXZmdA

David Bowie set up residence in a camper van on the street near his studios!  Bob Marley bought his very first guitar here.  Celebrity musicians always have and always will flock here. You never know who you might see.

Denmark Street is an essential London destination for music lovers.  An enthusiastic  musical community still exists today in the friendly atmosphere of this London side street. There’s always music wafting from basements, shop windows, and balconies and plenty of shops to browse.

You can visit Denmark Street, as well as other famous Rock ‘n’ Roll locations on our London Rock ‘n’ Roll Tour.

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If you would like to contact us, you can:

We are also a full-service London Black Taxi company:

www.londonblacktaxis.net

+44 (0)203 00 44 953

Let us know if you need transportation to and from the airport or anywhere else you need to go in and around London.

Please read our Terms and Conditions before booking.

www.londonblacktaxitours.net

+44 (0)203 00 44 953

Chinese New Year in London

Book a tour online or phone +44 (0)203 00 44 953

The Chinese New Year in London is a unique and traditional festival.

Do you want to immerse yourself in the magical atmosphere of the East?  Then don’t just read travel blogs; come celebrate the Chinese New Year in London!  For many years, London has been the home of Europe’s largest Chinese community.

The Chinese New Year (also called the Lunar New Year) does not have a fixed date.  It occurs on the second new moon after the winter solstice.  In 2012, it falls on January 23rd (to be exact, at 15:40 on 23-Jan-12 in China’s time zone).

2012 will be The Year of the Dragon.  To commemorate this momentous year, the Chinese New Year parade in London will occur on 29th January 2012.

Chinese New Year is the biggest festival of the year in Chinese communities.  In the days leading up to the Chinese New Year, people clean their houses, repay debts, buy new clothes and have their hair cut. A celebratory meal is held on the eve of the new year, with many traditional dishes served, and fireworks and firecrackers are let off to see in the new year.

With the start of the new year, Lion Dances pass through the streets to bring good luck to the households and businesses they visit. The drums, gongs and cymbals that accompany the Lion Dance are used to scare away evil and bad luck.

Watch one of the 2011 Lion Dances in London’s Chinatown

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67WHsfk2UOA

2012

2012 is set to be an auspicious year for London, and the Chinese New Year celebrations will be unforgettable. Large numbers of people will attend, so go early to admire the Chinese artists’ performances, jugglers, and dancers. Walk through Leicester Square, Chinatown and Shaftesbury Avenue to stop at the stands and enjoy your traditional Chinese cuisine or buy dragons, firecrackers, and fireworks.

Come celebrate the Chinese New Year in London to celebrate the Year of the Dragon!

This article was brought to you by the Trip and Travel Blog and London Black Taxi Tours

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If you would like to contact us, you can:

We are also a full-service London Black Taxi company:

www.londonblacktaxis.net

+44 (0)203 00 44 953

Let us know if you need transportation to and from the airport or anywhere else you need to go in and around London.

Please read our Terms and Conditions before booking.

www.londonblacktaxitours.net

+44 (0)203 00 44 953

Rock ‘n’ Roll Taxi Tour of London

Book a tour online or phone +44 (0)203 00 44 953

 

Hear and See London’s Rock ‘n’ Roll History

You will be treated to live commentary by your London cabbie, who is a specially trained London tour guide and an expert in London’s Rock ‘n’ Roll History.

Hear the stories of these places and people that shaped the history of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

The British Beat

The ’60s and ’70s saw an explosion of “British Beat” music, a fusion of rock, doo wop, R&B, jazz, blues, folk, and soul.

Pioneer groups such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, and The Kinks lived and performed in London while making their mark on modern musical history.

See the places and hear the stories of these legends that shaped the history of Rock n Roll.

The Fab Four

In 1963, The Beatles migrated from Liverpool to London. Your tour will take you to

  • Abbey Road’s iconic zebra crossing (get the camera ready!)
  • Abbey Road Studios
  • London Palladium, where the Beatles first live TV performance took place
  • Apple Headquarters
  • Indica Gallery, where John met Yoko
  • Macca’s London pad in St. Johns Wood
  • and more

Even more…

On your tour, you will see other monumental London landmarks and hear the stories of

  • The Rolling Stones
  • The Who
  • Elton John
  • Jimmy Hendrix
  • and other Rock legends

Price

  • £70 per hour
  • Minimum 2 hours

Tour Length

Tour time:  2 hours

However, more time can be arranged. Just let us know.

After Tour Nibbles

If you want to stay in the groove, we can recommend one of London’s Rock ‘n’ Roll cafes, including

Hard Rock Cafe

Bill Wyman’s Sticky Fingers Cafe

Ace Cafe London

Wheel Chair Accessible

All taxis are wheelchair accessible. Please mention at time of booking if you have an electric wheelchair,  as we will ensure that you have a slightly larger taxi.

Pickups

We will pick you up and drop you off at any Central London location,  inclusive in the price.
No need to take public transport across town just to start your tour! We will greet you at your door and see you safely back again.

Flight Layover Tours

If you have a long flight layover and would like a tour of London or the English countryside,  we can pick you up at the airport and deliver you back in time for your departing flight.  An extra fare for the airport pick-up and return will apply,  so please mention this at the time of booking.

To Book your London Rock n Roll Tour:

www.londonblacktaxitours.net

We are also a full-service London Black Taxi company:

www.londonblacktaxis.net

+44 (0)203 00 44 953

Let us know if you need transportation to and from the airport or anywhere else you need to go in and around London.

Please read our Terms and Conditions before booking.

Need Advice?

Which tour to take? Which tour company to use? Our Why Book With Us page might help you decide.

Additional Price Information

No administration fees, credit card fees, or taxes will be added to the Tour Price.

Pick-ups and drop-offs within Central London are included in the Tour Price.

Pick-ups and drop-offs outside of Central London will incur an additional meter fare, which will be subject to our very reasonable administration/booking fee (Please read our lovely Terms and Conditions.). Any questions, just ask!

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If you would like to contact us, you can:

We are also a full-service London Black Taxi company:

www.londonblacktaxis.net

+44 (0)203 00 44 953

Let us know if you need transportation to and from the airport or anywhere else you need to go in and around London.

Please read our Terms and Conditions before booking.

www.londonblacktaxitours.net

+44 (0)203 00 44 953

A Classic Way to Tour the Capital

Book one of our London Black Taxi Tours Online or phone +44 (0)203 00 44 953

A classic London taxi is a great way to tour the capital. The black taxi has long been one of London`s most iconic symbols. We specialise in taxi-based tours of London. Our London Black Taxi Tours are a great way to see the sights, from the well-known to the surprising, the spooky and the exhilarating. Your tour guide and cab driver are one and the same. Anyone who knows London knows that the only people with the real Knowledge of the city are the famous London Taxi drivers.

We offer a range of tours with something suitable for everyone. The taxis are wheelchair friendly and can pick up and drop off customers at any Central London location. Taxis can access routes that the tour buses cannot always get to, plus the comfort and privacy of a taxi beats a windy bus any day.

The London Highlights Tour is the perfect introduction to London. The tour includes well known sights such as Buckingham Palace, The Houses of Parliament, and The London Eye. Along the way, you will see and be introduced to many other landmarks and sights of London. Those enjoying the tour will also enjoy a fascinating history of London as told by your guide.

Other tours we provide include the magical Harry Potter Tour. This tour is suitable for budding wizards, potty Potter fans, or just about anyone who has enjoyed the books or films. Highlights include a photo opportunity at the famous Platform 9 ¾ and a trip to Leadenhall Market, home of the Leaky Cauldron.

Anyone looking for some chilling and mysterious insights into London`s history may fancy the Jack the Ripper Tour. The tour includes the murder sites and the notorious east London pubs where the Ripper met his victims. Your guide will have specialist knowledge of all things `Ripper-related` and will be able to answer all your questions.

London is thought to be one of the most haunted places in the world, which means the Haunted London Tour is in high demand. Visiting some of London`s most notoriously haunted addresses such as 50 Berkeley Square in Mayfair and The Grenadier Pub in Belgravia is on the agenda.

There is also an opportunity to take a Customised Tour of London. This can include some of your own ideas or alternatively some suggestions from the cabbie themselves. This tour is great for those with children who may need to stop at a park or for food along the way.

Tours are not just for tourists, even those living and working in the capital can be both entertained and educated by a London Black Taxi tour. The tours are a great way to impress a client, and we can pick up and drop off from your office space in London.

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To Book one of our London Black Taxi Tours:

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www.londonblacktaxis.net
www.londonblacktaxitours.net

+44 (0)203 00 44 953

Taxi Tour Guide on the Job

Book a Taxi Tour Online or phone +44 (0)203 00 44 953

Meet Adrian, one of our Tour Guides.   Adrian Rouse is a fully licensed London taxi driver, a qualified London taxi guide, and a qualified City of London guide.

Watch this video of Adrian “on the job” as he gives us a taste of his London knowledge!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xDcyK1Trvo

To Book your London Taxi Tour:

We are also a full-service London Black Taxi company:

www.londonblacktaxis.net

+44 (0)203 00 44 953

Let us know if you need transportation to and from the airport or anywhere else you need to go in and around London.

Please read our Terms and Conditions before booking.

Need Advice?

Which tour to take? Which tour company to use? Our Why Book With Us page might help you decide

Harry Potter Tour expands to include Deathly Hallows

Book a Harry Potter Taxi Tour Online or phone +44 (0)203 00 44 953

One Way, One Fate, One Hero

Our Harry Potter Taxi Tour of London is even more exciting since the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

In Deathly Hallows, the final installment of the Harry Potter series, Voldemort’s power has grown stronger. He now has control over the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts. Harry, Ron, and Hermione decide to finish Dumbledore’s work and find the rest of the Horcruxes to defeat the Dark Lord.

The preview, which you can watch below, hints that the film is darker than its predecessors.

Harry confronts Lord Voldemort as the two prepare for their final battle.

There are also hints of a growing love interest between Ron and Hermione, with a screen kiss between the pair.

But as the trio leave Hogwarts behind and attempt to confront the Dark Forces unleashed by Voldemort, unaided by Professor Dumbledore, they begin to argue.

Deathly Hallows – billed as ‘The Motion Picture Event of a Generation’ – is split into Part I and Part II.

The preview includes scenes from both films. The first part hit cinemas in the UK in November 2010. Fans will have to wait eight months for Part II, due for release in July 2011.

The cast also includes Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Brendan Gleeson, Richard Griffiths Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Timothy Spall, Imelda Staunton and Julie Walters.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1

Watch Preview

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Visit our Harry Potter page for more information about our Harry Potter Taxi Tour of London.

To Book a Harry Potter Taxi Tour of London:

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www.londonblacktaxis.net

+44 (0)203 00 44 953

Jack the Ripper Tour

Jack's London

Book our Jack the Ripper taxi tour Online or phone +44 (0)203 00 44 953

Visit Jack’s London!

Follow the trail of Jack the Ripper, if you dare!

  • Transport back to murky & mysterious 19th century East London

Shadowy East London

  • Explore the legend of the Ripper and Whitechapel murders
  • Walk the cobblestone streets and gas-lit alleyways where Jack lurked

Jack on the prowl

  • Visit the murder sites where Jack’s victims met their unfortunate end
  • Discover the notorious pubs where the girls plied their trade
  • Stop for a nibble & tipple at the Ten Bells, the most famous pub in Ripper history

Ten Bells Pub

  • Pick-up and drop-off at any central London location is included in tour price
  • If you have a long flight layover and want a Jack the Ripper Tour of London, we can pick you up at the airport and deliver you back in time for your departing flight (extra charges will apply)
  • Our drivers are Specialist Trained Ripperologists! Not only do they have the extensive knowledge of London that is typical of London cabbies, they have specialised in the Jack the Ripper legend.
  • And don’t worry! You will be safe from Jack and enjoy a comfortable tour in one of our Licensed London Black Taxis.
  • Highlights all of the Jack the Ripper sites in East London. Visit the murder sites among the maze of cobblestone alleyways that helped Jack evade detection and capture.

 

The Ten Bells Pub

 

  • Stop at the Ten Bells Pub, where our Specialist Trained Ripperologist will continue the eery story of how Jack lured the working girls of this pub to their fate. The Ten Bells is indelibly linked with the Jack the Ripper Story and still looks much like it did in 1888.

Walk the maze of cobblestone alleyways

  • We also stop at the White Hart pub, a true Jack the Ripper landmark and where one of the major suspects actually worked.

For more information and prices, visit our Jack the Ripper page.

Wheelchair Accessible

All our taxis are wheelchair accessible. Slight modifications can be made to the tour, if necessary, for easier wheelchair access. Our drivers are always pleased to help.

Some electric wheelchairs may be too wide, so please phone us for specific information if you are travelling with an electric wheelchair.

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To Book one of our Jack the Ripper Taxi Tours:

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Ripperology

Ghastly Headlines

The term “ripperology” was coined to describe the study and analysis of the Ripper cases.

Because the murders were never solved, the legends surrounding them became a combination of genuine historical research, folklore, and pseudohistory. There are over one hundred theories about the Ripper’s identity, and the murders have inspired multiple works of fiction.

Recommended Ripperology Reading

(try saying that 3 times fast!)

Metropolitan Police Files on Jack the Ripper

Wikipedia on Jack the Ripper

BBC on Jack the Ripper

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Jack the Ripper Taxi Tours at:

www.londonblacktaxis.net and www.londonblacktaxitours.net

+44 (0)203 00 44 953

Visit Harry Potter’s London!

platform

Book a Harry Potter Taxi Tour Online or phone +44 (0)203 00 44 953

See the London film locations used in all 7  films, including Deathly Hallows!

  • Stop for a photo shoot at ‘Platform 9 ¾’!
  • Have that camera ready again as we approach the ‘Leaky Cauldron’ and walk in the footsteps of Harry and Hagrin in the Victorian Leadenhall Market
  • Check out ‘Gringotts Wizards Bank’!
  • Follow the route of the ‘Knight Bus’ around those little streets!
  • Brockdale Bridge is in one piece and you can walk across it!
  • Pick-up and drop-off at any central London location inclusive in tour price
  • If you have a long flight layover and want a Harry Potter Tour of London, we can pick you up at the airport and deliver you back in time for your departing flight (extra fare may apply)
  • A safe and comfortable tour in a Licensed London Black Taxi

Prices and More Information

Please visit our Harry Potter page.

All taxis are wheelchair accessible.

To Book:

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Harry Potter Tours at:

www.londonblacktaxis.net and www.londonblacktaxitours.net

+44 (0)203 00 44 953

The Tower of London

tower-of-london

Book a Taxi Tour Online or phone +44 (0)203 00 44 953 or send us a message.

Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London (and historically as The Tower), is a historic monument in central London, England, on the north bank of the River Thames. It is located within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and is separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space known as Tower Hill. It is the oldest building used by the British government.

The Tower of London is often identified with the White Tower, the original stark square fortress built by William the Conqueror in 1078. However, the tower as a whole is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat.

The tower’s primary function was a fortress, a royal palace, and a prison (particularly for high status and royal prisoners, such as the Princes in the Tower and the future Queen Elizabeth I). This last use has led to the phrase “sent to the Tower” (meaning “imprisoned”). It has also served as a place of execution and torture, an armoury, a treasury, a zoo, the Royal Mint, a public records office, an observatory, and since 1303, the home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.

See the Tower of London on our London Highlights tour